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Here is a summary of the article on Thordarson Electric Manufacturing Co. and its founder:
Company Overview & Evolution
Founding: The Thordarson Electric Manufacturing Co. was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1895 by Chester H. Thordarson, an immigrant from Iceland.
Early Specialization: The company initially specialized in amateur radio equipment, focusing on heavy-duty high-voltage spark transformers (such as the Type R and Type RS), oscillation transformers, and rotary gaps.
Post-WWI Expansion: Following World War I, the company expanded its catalog to include a full line of audio and power supply transformers, choke coils, and other radio-related items. It also produced amateur transmitters in the late 1930s.
Corporate Timeline:
– 1936: Suffered severe financial distress. To prevent total liquidation by creditors, a financing plan was arranged with the Burgess Battery Company. Burgess became the owner of the common stock, while Thordarson was given preferred stock and remained President, rescuing both the business and his private collection.
– 1940: Became a division of Maguire Industries, Inc.
– Later Years: Eventually became Thordarson-Meissner, a division of Components Corp.
Chester H. Thordarson & Rock Island
The Icelandic Dream: In 1914, Thordarson purchased the 900-acre Rock Island in Lake Michigan (near Green Bay, Wisconsin) to recreate an Icelandic-style kingdom reminiscent of his childhood.
Viking Hall: He constructed a massive stone boathouse known as "Viking Hall" on the island. In 1941, he moved his expansive personal library—which featured a premier collection of historical electrical literature and one of the world's largest collections of Icelandic literature—into the hall.
Legacy: Following Thordarson's death in 1945, the island was eventually purchased by the State of Wisconsin in 1964 and transformed into Rock Island State Park. His magnificent library was safely acquired by the University of Wisconsin that same year.
